The Wisconsin Badgers had a ton of outgoing players this last offseason, and Cade Yacamelli was put in the "understandable but sad to see him go" category. Yacamelli had never quite broken through with the Badgers as the go-to back. He was used in spot duty and as a change of pace. Even then, though, he was buried a little bit on the depth chart. Over four seasons, he appeared in 31 games, all of which came in the final three seasons, as he redshirted as a freshman.
This offseason, he chose to go to Miami (OH) and see if he could be the featured back, yet in one game, it looks like that decision may be backfiring on him. He only got one carry for a negative yard in the first game of the season against the Pitt Panthers. That's not how he imagined his opening game going.
The game script made it hard for Miami (OH) to get much running going, with the final score going 59-14 and a lot of passing to try to keep the game close. Also, three-and-outs don't give way to much running attacks. Yet, even with that taken into consideration, he still wasn't the featured back. Nor was it close. It appears that the Redhawks may be using him in the same way Wisconsin used him, as a change of pace.
Miami (OH) didn't really have a lead back, with only four running backs getting carries. Yacamelli received the least, with only one carry. Lazaro Rogers had six carries for 21 yards; D'Shawntae Jones had five carries for 10 yards and a touchdown; and Rodney Nelson got five carries for five yards.
Cade Yacamelli appears to be the No. 3 RB for the Miami (OH) Redhawks
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None of them have impressive numbers, but one carry for negative one yard may be the worst of the bunch. This is surprising for a player going from 128 total rushing yards last season for a Power 4 team to a lower-level FBS team and not getting any running.
For Yacamelli, he actually had this stat line once last season too. Against Michigan, Yacamelli also rushed once for negative one yard. He then went 7 carries for 23 yards in the next game against Iowa. So all that to say, it's hard to really slam a guy for one game in which his team got pummeled.
It's the usage, though, that seems boggling. He simply wasn't given the ball and doesn't seem to have become the top starter for Miami (OH). And based on depth charts that are being put out, Yacamelli is listed as the No. 3 back. Which is basically what he was most of last season for the Badgers. So his transfer may not have paid off at all.
Dilin Jones went to LSU and immediately took over the room. Yacamelli went to Miami (OH) and is now buried again on the depth chart.
For Wisconsin, he would have been even deeper in this loaded Badger room, but Yacamelli is a guy that you want to root for, and many were hoping the move to Miami (OH) would allow him to have a career year and be the featured back for the Redhawks.
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